Question of the Week: 14 - 11/6/2000The Unresolved US ElectionDid YOU vote? Which candidate did you vote for? How do you feel about the political wrangling going on right now in Florida? Will/Should either candidate concede for the good of the country-or should either/both fight it out until we all scream for mercy? How do you think either candidate, if declared the winner, will be able to bring the country together given the inference that the election results now point to an America that is almost equally divided into one camp or the other? And the BIG question-What, if any, impact will the final results have on the Pagan communities?

I voted, for Gore. I hope that the Fl counties that have had such a bad problem will re-vote. Since the cards were not up to the standards of fl law, the fl election should be voided and re-voted. With Gore winning the popular vote, the electoral collage would most likely overturn the will of the citizens as it stands now. That would create problems that our nation just doesnŐt need right now... The citizens of the in question counties are furious about the 19K voided votes, and so are many citizens around the country.

Honestly, I'll Admit I Voted For Bush And I Do Still Want...

Nov 9th. at 7:24:41 pm UTC

Amber (Oceanside, California US)

Age: 21

Honestly, I'll admit I voted for Bush and I do still want him to win. I am concerned with his views on Paganism , but I think it is our obligation to MAKE him aware of us. I already have started a writing campaign to Bush about us and I hope more of you will as well. Now is not the time to sit back and hide in the shadows. Now is the time to make ourselfs known so that we can protect our rights.

Yes I voted, I voted for Ralph Nader.I feel that what is going on in florida is not right , I mean somthing just don't fit. I just think that Jeb (bush) and George W Bush are up to somthing.( it is a little strange that this is happening is Jeb's state ).

I feel that they should NOT concede untill all the votes are re counted.

I feel that if Gore wins there will not be much of an issue. But if Bush wins hold onto your hats we are in for a ride.

If Bush wins there will be a big impact on the Pagan community, But..... inlight of what happened this might help the Pagan community because of the grid lock in Washinton.

I voted for Al Gore, and I believe after George W. Bush commented that we as Witches are not a "real religion", I had no choice but to vote for a President that follows and believes in the constitution as opposed to interpreting it with the Christian Bible.

Every vote in this country should count. West Palm Beach should revote because the balloting in my opinion, was illegal. It's not hard to see that there is a proponderance of the evidence that the will of the people may have been circumvented by technical problems. Before we toss away the Presidency on someone that does not deserve it, I think we need to be absolutely sure.

One thing I want Pagans to remember is that we now see, at this moment, that 225 people in the right place at the right time can hold the fate of the entire world in their hands. You never know when you or your vote will decide the fate of a country, or the world. Everyone register - don't wait until the next election, don't wait for an issue you want to vote on - go out, get a registration card and register.

Yes I Voted (it's Not Just A Right It's A Privledge). I...

Nov 9th. at 7:37:33 pm UTC

amber (seaford)

Age: 21

yes i voted (it's not just a right it's a privledge). i voted for gore but was undecided between him and ralphl ( i wanted my vote to count). I think flordia needs to have a re-vote due to all for the votes that were tossed out. are the republicans trying to say that the american people are stupid and and that our votes don't matter as long as you are in the win. every person 18 and over is entitled to be heard and this is one of the major ways to be heard. i feel that no party sould concede. even if i don't agree with the other party they also have the right to a fair election and if it means we have to wait then i feel it's worth the wait so that the who ever is chosen is not there by mistake.

the last to questions are to hard to answer right now. it will take a while to see how things work out.

I wasn't able to vote, but had I been allowed, it would have been for Nader, especially since Gore didn't ahve much chance in the Tar Heel state anyway (we even supported Dole!). I agree that FL should revote, precisely because, as someone said, this election clearly did NOT express the will of the people, and what's the point in an election that doesn't express the will of the people? This is the first time this situation (one candidate losing the popular but winning the electoral) has occured since everyone over 18 recieved the right to vote... which i think makes the issue of the people's will all that much more important. I think the fact that this is happening in Jeb's state is slightly suspicious, seeing as how a box of absentee ballots was "found" in a state trooper's patrol car and all.. but I'm not crying foul yet.

Well considering that only 52% of the population voted I find it really annyoingthat people who did not vote at all are even complaining. I also find it suspisous that 1900 votes were thrown out in florida because the people who DID vvote got confused and voted for two candidates. Don't you find it interesting that on the recount that V.P. Gore accquired more votes than on the original count? What about the people who in Florida say that they accidently voted for Pat B., when they ment to vote for V.P. Gore!! What the ehck would we find if we did a recount of ALL votes everywhere?? And the Electorial Collage... an old outdated idea which has no place in America today. The fact that the people of the USA do NOT elect the President but the E.C. does is so frustrating I could puke. Gore has the popular vote he should be president. Not that I like or support Gore, I wanted Nader.

I voted, and voted for Ralph Nader. I know, I know. No chance of winning, and I knew that when I voted for him, but my hope was that if more people voted for him, perhaps whatever candidate did get elected would pay more attention to the issues that he stands for. As for what's going on in Florida now, if I were to have more faith in the candidates, I'd think they'd BOTH want the outcome to reflect what the people actually wanted/want, and wouldn't object to a re-count. And if upwards of 19, 000 people found the ballot confusing enough that they had trouble filling it out and were left with their votes uncounted, I think they need to concede that maybe there WAS a problem with the ballot design that ended up interfering with those people's constitutional right to have their votes for the leader of their choice included with the votes of the rest of the country. 19, 000 people is not a small number, if that many people found it confusing, I think they need to concede that there was a problem. And if there was a problem, it needs to be remedied. Perhaps a recount is the best way to do that. If someone can think of a better way, I'd be open to hearing it. As for how I think this will effect the Pagan community, one of the largest impacts I can think of is on Women and their right to choose, Feminism and Women's rights being an issue Pagans traditionally have been concerned with. The next president will be appointing, I think it's 6, but don't quote me on that because I could have the number wrong, Supreme Court Justices, and if those justices share the values of the President who appointed them (a fair bet) and that president is a Republican, we could very well see a strong and, frighteningly, perhaps successful push to overturn Roe vs. Wade. I know that not all Pagans are Pro-Choice, and don't mean to imply that they are, but whatever your personal beliefs are, this issue is certainly of interest. And, of course, religious freedom is a huge issue that the next president will be dealing with. With the both congress and the senate dominated by Republicans, and, quite possibly, a Republican president, I think there will be a huge push towards eliminating evolution from the curriculum in public schools (come on people! it's already happened in two states!), mandated school prayer, posting of the ten commandments in schools (already happening!), and a slew of other, what I consider, infringements on the religious liberty of minority religions. And what of the fate of our Pagan men and women in the military? It's hard for me to think that things will get better for them with the person in charge of the country openly against them. I mean, Bush has outright said that he doesn't consider Wicca or Witchcraft to be a religion and it therefore shouldn't be afforded the same legal rights as other religions. I find myself very afraid for my own religious freedom and right to make decisions about my own body at the hands of a president like George W. Bush.

i feel that bush only believes that his religion is the only way.i would like to see gore win i hope that he does we need to keep demecrats in the house.

I Would Have Voted For Gore If I Could Have. That's Okay...

Nov 9th. at 7:58:21 pm UTC

Chaos CHilde (Colton, California US)

Age: 22

I would have voted for Gore if I could have. That's okay, cause he won in my state anyways. I don't think Gore should concede to Bush, I want to see it played out fair and square. After this whole thing, everyone in AMerica will be so glad it's over they'll unite in a happy celebration of actually having a president.

If Gore is elected everything in pagan communities will remain about how it is now. I shudder to think what will happen with Bush. He has been quoted saying he doesn't believe WIcca is a viable religion. He's all for removing it from the military.

Yes, I Voted...as All Americans And Especially Pagans Should, As These...

Nov 9th. at 8:24:05 pm UTC

Selvanus (Royal Oak, Michigan US)

Age: 34

Yes, I voted...as all Americans and ESPECIALLY pagans should, as these elections are what keep us free to be who we are.

Perhaps I am a bit overly optimistic about these things, but I do believe that we must rely at all times to what our constitution says and keep it's principals. All things will work out and regardless of which man wins this Presidential election, we must rally behind him as well as keep the pressure on him and the rest of our elected officials to maintain our rights as Pagan Americans!

I voted for Bush which was a huge upset to most of my friends and co-workers, who are largely Gore suporters. I was very upset by the way both canidates treated my age group. True, we don't usually vote in large groups, but wouldn't it be an asset to have us on your side if you so decided to turn out in masses?

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